Residency Information

Residency determination is based on regulations from the California Education Code, Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

California Resident

In order to be classified as a resident of California for tuition purposes, students with a current status that does not preclude establishing residency must meet the requirements of:

• Physical presence in California for one year and one day prior to the first day of the semester for which you will be attending; and
• Demonstrated intent to make California your permanent residence.

Proof to establish California residence may include, but are not limited to:

• Possessing a California driver’s license.
• Possessing California motor vehicle license plates.
• Payment of California income taxes as a resident.
• Registering to vote and voting in California.
• Licensing from California for professional practice.
• Establishing and maintaining active California bank accounts.
• Being a petitioner of divorce in California

The following examples may classify you as a non-California resident for tuition purposes, but is not limited to:

• Maintaining voter registration in another state
• Being the petitioner for divorce in another state
• Attending an out-of-state college/university as a resident of that state
• Declaring non-residence for state income tax purposes.

Please Note: All residency determinations must be made during the current term. Residency status cannot be changed once the term has ended.

If you are a CA resident and believe to have been coded incorrectly, please complete this Residency Questionnaire form

Special Immigrant Visas

Education Code section 68075.6 grants an immediate nonresident tuition fee exemption to eligible Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and refugee students who settled in California upon entering the United States. This exemption is granted for one year from the date the student settled in California upon entering the United States.

This exemption applies to the following:

• Iraqi citizens or nationals (and their spouses and children) who were employed by or on behalf of the United States Government in Iraq (Pub.L. No. 110-181, §1244)
• Afghan and Iraqi translators (and their spouses and children) who worked directly with the United States Armed Forces (Pub.L. No. 109-163, §1059)
• Afghanistan nationals who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (Pub.L. No. 111-8, §602)
• Refugee students admitted to the United States under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code

Residency Reclassification

If you have previously attended Chaffey as a nonresident and are now eligible for resident status you must submit an updated Residency Questionnaire, including the Financial Independence section. You will be required to provide proof of your financial independence. Our residency staff will inform you what documents are required once your form has been reviewed in our office.

The burden is on the student to demonstrate clearly both physical presence in California and intent to establish California residence (T5 54026). Failure to provide requested documents will result in a status of nonresident.

Residency Questionnaire 

Veterans

Please contact Jessica Galvan in the veteran’s resource center at  Jessica.Galvan@chaffey.edu 

AB 540/Undocumented Students

Any student, other than a non-immigrant alien, who meets all the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at all public colleges in California (the California Community Colleges, the California State University and the University of California).

General Eligibility and Residency

• The law does not grant residency; it requires that certain nonresident students be exempted from paying nonresident tuition.
• This benefit is available to all U.S. citizens, permanent residents of the U.S., and aliens who are not non-immigrants (including those who are undocumented), who meet all other eligibility criteria.
• Students must meet all requirements to be eligible for exemption.
• The exemption is not available for persons who are absent from California, but who are taking distance education classes from California Community Colleges.

Requirements: Students must meet the requirements below:

1: Time and Coursework Requirements (either A or B):

1. Attendance for three full-time years or the equivalent at any combination of the following:
   1. California high school
   2. California adult school (including non-credit courses offered by a California community college) *
   3. California community college (maximum of two years of credit courses can count toward this requirement)’
                                                                           OR
2. Three years of California high school credits, along with three years of total attendance at a California elementary school, California secondary school, or any combination of the three.                                                                                    

2: Degree or Unit Requirements (completion of any of the following):

1. Graduation from a California high school or the equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC, CHSPE)
2. Attainment of an Associate degree from a California Community College
3. Fulfillment of the minimum transfer requirements from a California Community College to a UC or CSU campus

If you believe you are eligible for AB 540, please complete the following forms:

1: Residency Questionnaire 

2: AB 540 Affidavit

Please submit by email to admissions.applications@chaffey.edu

Once the documents have been reviewed, you will be contacted by a residency advisor.

Non-Resident Waiver

Students who are citizens and residents of a foreign country, and who are legally precluded from establishing residency in California shall be entitled to exemptions from non-resident fees on the basis on individual financial need in accordance with regulations adopted by the Chancellor. Such individual exemptions shall not be granted in excess of ten percent (10%) of the district’s students who are both citizens and residents of a foreign country in the applicable term. For more information on the Non-Residency Waiver, please contact admissions.applications@chaffey.edu. 

1. Foreign Citizen (not a US Citizen)
2. Are legally prohibited from establishing residency in CA
3. Meet the financial assistance requirement
4. Are enrolled in at least one (1) unit

AB 540/Dreamer Students – Learn more about tuition as it pertains to Dreamers/AB 540 students on this page.

Dreamers - for additional resources visit the Undocumented Students resource page